Important Information On COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has no single definition.

COPD is a disease of the lungs. It is caused by blocking of the airways in the lungs, and it has no cure.

COPD refers to a number of chronic lung disorders that obstruct the airways. Asthma is not usually considered a form of COPD because "pure" asthma symptoms can be reversed. COPD is permanent.

The most common form of COPD is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis occurs when the airways in your lungs have become narrow and partly clogged with mucus.

Chronic Bronchitis is the presence of cough and sputum for more than three months for two consecutive years. If there is airways obstruction in addition to chronic bronchitis, COPD is indicated.

Emphysema occurs when some of the air sacs deep in your lungs have been damaged.

Emphysema is an enlargement and destruction of the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs. This causes the surrounding airways to collapse.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency-related emphysema is a relatively uncommon form of chronic lung disease. It results from an inherited lack of alpha 1-antitrypsin protein.

COPD almost always results from smoking. Not all smokers will develop COPD. Only 10-15% of heavy smokers will develop COPD.

People with COPD are more likely to get the flu than people without COPD. A person with COPD who gets the flu will be sicker and the infection will last longer if that person did not get the flu shot.

When you are overweight, you have to do more breathing for the same amount of work. If you lose weight, then you will have more breathing reserve for walking, stair climbing, etc.

A person uses a great deal of energy in the simple act of breathing. If the body is working too hard to breathe and the person has not been eating well, the person will tire quickly and have little energy to perform all daily activities. Good nutrition can improve energy level, lung function, exercise tolerance and weight.

Vitamin C has may be helpful to respiratory conditions. In addition, antioxidants in general are hypothesized to be important for neutralizing the large amounts of free radicals associated with COPD.

A greater intake of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils has been reported to help protect cigarette smokers from COPD.

The nutrients mentioned above reflect the major nutritional supplements that may help the condition. Please do remember however that nutritional supplementation is an adjunct to medical treatment and in no way replaces medical treatment.

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